Coating die with laser position sensors

Abstract

An apparatus including: a movement device that moves an object to be coated; a slot die coater equipped with a position sensor mounted on at least one end of the slot die coater and which slot die coater controllably dispenses coating material onto the moving object; and at least one servor motor-controller system in electrical contact with the position sensor, wherein the position sensor senses the position of the slot die coater relative to the object and wherein the at least one servor motor-controller system adjusts the position of the slot die coater relative to the object if the position of the slot die coater relative to the moving substrate deviates from a set of predetermined coordinates.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and processes for treating, such as by coating substrates, and more specifically, to a coating apparatus including a coating die with one or more laser position sensors and which coating die enables coating processes that deliver precise coating layer thicknesses and widths to, for example, cylindrical, sheet, or web substrates. The resulting precision coated substrates provide articles or devices that are useful in, for example, printing systems and printing processes such as organic film coated drum photoconductors, thermal fusing rolls, and the like useful articles. The apparatus and coating processes of the present invention can be adapted to provide value-added and enhanced performance capabilities to known printing and copying devices, such as printers, copiers, facsimile, and related multifunction printing devices.In embodiments of the present invention can be readily adaptable to the manuf...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

A charge generating layer can be “developed” out using the single slot die to provide a charger generating layer (CGL) or both a (CGL) and a charge transport layer CTL simultaneously with the single slot. Thus, a two layer coating can be produced using only a single slot die and a single coating solution. This eliminates one entire coating sequence while improving both productivity and yield.

This invention can be used to produce electrostatographic charge generating material with an increased yield, better layer properties, thinner layers and increased throughput.

Problems solved by technology

It is difficult to slot coat a high quality single layer coating of a charge generation layer onto a substrate primarily because of generally low liquid viscosity of the coating, shear thinning and yielding stress due to the nature of the dispersion and the typically extremely thin layer requirements.

Images